Letter-box.



No. 659,486. Patented Oct. 9, I900. W. H. MULLOY.

LETTER BOX.

(Application filed July 2, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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WILLIAM H. MULLOY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI;

LETTER-Box.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 659,486, dated. October 9, 1900-.

Application filed J n13 2, 1900.

To nil 111710777, it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. MULLoY, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This in vention relates to street letter-boxes; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lid for closing the opening of my improved letterbox. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the arrangement of the different parts. Fig. 3 is a front view with parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the hinged bottom by means of which the contents are removed from the interior of the box.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a casing of any preferred construction having an opening 2 through its front side near the upper extremity thereof, and integral with the front side of the box are the inwardlyprojecting guides 3, which, as shown, have a suitable incline whereby the article which is passed into the letter-box is allowed to move without obstruction from oif the lower one of the projections.

Formed integral with the sides of the box on the inside are the inwardly-projecting annular flanges 4., which form bearings, within which is supported a rod 5. Connected to the rod 5 and projecting forwardly through an opening 6 in the front of the box are the arms 7, carried by the forward ends of which is a plate 8, which normally rests against the front side of the box in the manner shown in Fig. 2, thereby closing the entrance 2 of the box, and formed integral with the lower edge of the said plate is a projection 9, affording a means for engaging the said plate, whereby it may be elevated whenever it is desired to pass an object into the letter-box. Projecting downwardly from the rod 5, inside the box 1, are the rods 10, carried on the lower ends of which is a plate 11, which, as shown in Fig. 2, normally occupies a position a suitable distance to the rear of the lower ends of Serial No. 22.353. (No model-I the projections 3. The said plate 11 projects downwardly a slight distance below the lower ends of the projections 3, and Whenever the plate 8 is elevated to pass an object into the letter-box the plate 11 will be drawn against the inner ends of the said projections, thereby closing the passage 2 until after the plate 8 is lowered, when the said plate 11 will again assume its normal position away from the projections 3, thereby allowing the object to fall to the bottom of the letter-box. By this construction whenever the plate 8 is raised the plate 11 will be against the inner ends of the project-ions 3, thereby closing the passage 2 and preventing any of the contents of the box from being removed therefrom.

12 indicates the bottom of the letter-box, which is provided with the integral projections 13 on its rear side, the said projections being pivoted to the elevations 1 1 integral with the lower extremity of the rear side of the letterbox. An upwardly projecting flange 15 is integral with the front side of the bottom and when. closed projects upwardly into the letter-box, bearing against the front side thereof in the manner shown in Fig. 2. It may be retained in this position by means of a lock 16 of any ordinary construction.

Whenever it is desired to remove the contents of the box, the lock 16 is released, thereby allowing .the bottom 12 to drop into the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and allowing the entire contents of the box to drop into a suitable receptacle.

I claim 1. A letter-box having an opening, a rod carried in suitable bearings within the letterbox, projections carried by said rod, a plate carried "by said projections outside the letterhox, which plate normally rests against the side of the letter-box, thereby closing the said opening, a second plate supported by the said rod inside the letter-box, and means whereby the second-mentioned plate is made to close the said opening when the first-mentioned plate is removed therefrom, substantially as specified.

2. A letter-box having an opening, suitable guides above and below said opening, a rod supported in suitable bearings inside the letter-box, projections carried by said rod and I removed therefrom when the said plate is re projecting through the front side of the letlowered, substantially as specified.

ter-box, a plate oai'ried by said projections, In testimony whereof I affix my signature which plate normally closes the said opening, in presence of two witnesses.

a second plate carried by said rod Within the letter-box, means whereby the second-men- WILLIAM MULLOY' tioned plate is drawn against the inner ends Witnesses:

of the said guides when the first-mentioned ALFRED A. EIOKS,

plate is elevated, and means whereby it is JOHN D. RIPPEY. 

